Top 4 reasons not to buy a crane

As a small business owner of a building and construction company, you might be weighing up the benefits of buying your own crane. Having access to lifting equipment can be convenient for a growing business, and not having to source a crane for every project can save time and boost productivity. However, no two projects are the same. Unless you have the capital to purchase different types of equipment, you may find yourself lacking in resources. Not to mention, upkeep can be timely and you will need specially trained personnel to help you operate the equipment. Here are a few reasons you should choose an equipment rental service rather than purchasing your own crane.

Buying a Crane May Blow Your Budget

The main cause for concern for most small business owners is budget, and buying a crane can truly set you back. Cranes require maintenance, trained operators and storage space. If you specialise in specific projects that require the use of a particular type of crane, then the cost of buying a specific model could be worth the money down the line. However, most companies do not require on-demand access to a crane and when they do, they usually use different models for varying purposes. If this is the case for you, don’t waste your money on buying a crane. For Manchester crane hire services, check out the available companies online.

Hiring and Training Operators Costs Money

In addition to the deposit fee and the actual cost of buying a crane, you need to make sure you have trained and licensed personnel on hand to operate it. Training staff members can cost time and money, but it is necessary if you want them to operate equipment effectively. Not to mention, if you want to bring additional staff onboard to operate a crane, you need to think about the cost of recruitment, salary, benefits and overhead expenses.

Heightened Health and Safety Risk

You need a specific set of skills to operate a crane, and making the wrong move can lead to serious injuries. A significant advantage of crane rental services is the fact that they can provide you with licensed professionals to operate specialised equipment. This reduces the health and safety risk of operating, and being around, heavy duty equipment. Inexperienced operators are more likely to cause accidents, and accidents can result in time off work and potential lawsuits.

Maintenance Takes Up Valuable Time

All heavy duty equipment requires routine maintenance to ensure it operates optimally, and cranes are no different. If you decide to purchase a crane, you need to make sure you stay on top of repairs and perform regular inspections. In addition to training an employee to operate a crane, maintenance and inspection training is also essential. Training a staff member to perform these duties properly can take a long time. Renting a crane from a professional provider can eliminate this lengthy process. Renting a crane as a one-off means that you will receive equipment that has already passed inspection. Furthermore, you can negotiate maintenance in your T&Cs when signing a long-term rental contract.